King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) has inaugurated the Robotics Bay, a 1,000-square-meter facility dedicated to developing, testing, and prototyping advanced robotic and autonomous systems.

Launched on October 13, 2025, the Robotics Bay strengthens Saudi Arabia’s capabilities in robotics and artificial intelligence (AI), supporting Vision 2030 goals to diversify the economy and build a knowledge-based society. The facility also aims to foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and collaboration between academia and industry.

The facility is equipped with state-of-the-art prototyping tools—including 3D printers, CNC machines, and soldering stations—to accelerate the design of next-generation intelligent machines in collaboration with industry and national partners.

Professor Gianluca Setti, Dean of the Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Sciences and Engineering Division, said robotics and automation are key to the Kingdom’s digital transformation strategy. He noted that the Robotics Bay reaffirms KAUST’s commitment to driving technological innovation and providing solutions that strengthen the national economy.

Supervised by Professor Eric Feron and Assistant Professor Shinkyu Park, both from the Electrical and Computer Engineering department, the Robotics Bay features a central testing arena for aerial, ground, and underwater robots, surrounded by specialized laboratories for research and development. 

The Robotics Bay will help advance technologies for smart cities, autonomous mobility, and infrastructure development, aligning with the Kingdom’s giga-projects. Professor Feron, an aeronautics and transportation expert, said the facility enables scaled-down multimodal mobility experiments and could serve as a testing site for KAUST’s Future Mobility Sandbox, the world’s first platform for land, air, and sea mobility technologies.

In addition to research, the Robotics Bay serves as a training ground for emerging robotics and AI talent, supporting local expertise and reducing dependence on imported knowledge. Its work spans aerial and ground robotics, human-robot collaboration, multi-robot systems, and marine robotics.

Recognized among the world’s leading robotics centers—alongside institutions such as UC San Diego, Caltech, and the University of Michigan—the Robotics Bay cements KAUST’s role in advancing scientific and engineering excellence, while contributing to Saudi Arabia’s growing reputation as a global technology and innovation hub.